While Grey ran out comfortable winners in the end, the first half was a tight affair with Affies taking the game to the hosts. The forward encounter was bruising and unrelenting as both sides tried to gain the upper hand.

It was Grey who broke the shackles just before half-time with a try from scrumhalf Pieter Rademan. Affies surged back and kicked a penalty to leave the game delicately poised.

While another Affies penalty soon after the break narrowed the gap to one, it was all Grey from then on with the hosts scoring 23 unanswered points in the next 15 minutes.

Grey props Stefan Coetzer and Marcel van der Merwe barged over for tries, with flyhalf Johan Goosen controlling the game well with his boot. Goosen also kicked three conversions and three penalties for a personally tally of 15 points.

Affies attacked vigorously for the last 10 minutes of the game and scored a consolation try on the stroke of full-time.

Grey’s tight five set the platform for their victory and No 8 Neil Jordaan was once again outstanding at the breakdown.

Grey College now have a week off before facing Grey PE at home, where the Bloem boys have not lost since 2006 (to Paul Roos).

‘That break will do us the world of good,’ coach Ingo Machts told keo.co.za. ‘We have a few niggling injuries and those players need some time to recover.’